Evaluation of an average numerator relationship matrix model and a Bayesian hierarchical model for growth traits in Nellore cattle with uncertain paternity

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Random regression analyses using B-splines functions to model growth from birth to adult age in Canchim cattle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Genetic analysis of visual scores and their relationships to mature female weight in Nellore breed

Dados de 79.884 animais da raça Nelore foram utilizados para estimar parâmetros genéticos e avaliar as relações entre os escores de conformação, precocidade e musculatura obtidos à desmama e ao sobreano e o peso das fêmeas à idade adulta. Utilizou-se o método da máxima verossimilhança restrita, em análise multicaracterísticas, com modelo que incluiu os efeitos genéticos aditivos direto e residual, como aleatórios, e os efeitos fixos de grupo de contemporâneos e, como covariáveis, a idade do animal à pesagem e a idade da mãe ao parto (exceto para o peso das fêmeas à idade adulta). Os grupos contemporâneos à desmama foram definidos pelas variáveis: sexo, rebanho, ano e mês de nascimento, grupo de manejo ao nascimento e à desmama. Na definição de grupo contemporâneo ao sobreano também foi incluída a variável grupo de manejo ao sobreano. Para o peso das fêmeas à idade adulta, o grupo de contemporâneos foi composto por rebanho, ano de nascimento, grupo de manejo ao sobreano, ano e estação da pesagem. Os efeitos genético materno e de ambiente permanente materno também foram incluídos no modelo para análise dos escores de conformação, precocidade e musculatura à desmama. As estimativas de herdabilidade direta obtidas foram 0,18 ± 0,02 para o escore de conformação; 0,21 ± 0,01 para o escore de precocidade; 0,22 ± 0,01 para o escore de musculatura à desmama e 0,24 ± 0,01 para o escore de conformação; 0,27 ± 0,01 para o escore de precocidade; e 0,26 ± 0,01 para o escore de musculatura ao sobreano e 0,42 ± 0,02 para o peso das fêmeas à idade adulta. As correlações genéticas estimadas entre os escores visuais medidos à desmama e ao sobreano foram positivas, variando de média a alta magnitude (0,56 ± 0,03 a 0,85 ± 0,01). Por outro lado, as correlações genéticas estimadas entre os escores visuais e o peso das fêmeas à idade adulta foram positivas e moderadas, variando de 0,21 ± 0,03 a 0,35 ± 0,03. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a seleção de animais com maiores escores visuais, principalmente ao sobreano, deve promover aumento do peso das fêmeas à idade adulta.

Genetic parameters of total milk yield and factors describing the shape of lactation curve in dairy buffaloes

The objective of this study was to apply factor analysis to describe lactation curves in dairy buffaloes in order to estimate the phenotypic and genetic association between common latent factors and cumulative milk yield. A total of 31 257 monthly test-day milk yield records from buffaloes belonging to herds located in the state of São Paulo were used to estimate two common latent factors, which were then analysed in a multi-trait animal model for estimating genetic parameters. Estimates of (co)variance components for the two common latent factors and cumulated 270-d milk yield were obtained by Bayesian inference using a multiple trait animal model. Contemporary group, number of milkings per day (two levels) and age of buffalo cow at calving (linear and quadratic) as covariate were included in the model as fixed effects. The additive genetic, permanent environmental and residual effects were included as random effects. The first common latent factor (F1) was associated with persistency of lactation and the second common latent factor (F2) with the level of production in early lactation. Heritability estimates for Fl and F2 were 0.12 and 0.07, respectively. Genetic correlation estimates between El and F2 with cumulative milk yield were positive and moderate (0.63 and 0.52). Multivariate statistics employing factor analysis allowed the extraction of two variables (latent factors) that described the shape of the lactation curve. It is expected that the response to selection to increase lactation persistency is higher than the response obtained from selecting animals to increase lactation peak. Selection for higher total milk yield would result in a favourable correlated response to increase the level of production in early lactation and the lactation persistency.

GPS Satellite Kinematic Relative Positioning: Analyzing and Improving the Functional Mathematical Model Using Wavelets

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The early systemic and gastrointestinal oxygenation effects of hemorrhagic shock resuscitation with hypertonic saline and hypertonic saline 6% dextran-70: A comparative study in dogs

The smaller volemic state from hypertonic (7.5%) saline (HS) solution administration in hemorrhagic shock can determine lesser systemic oxygen delivery and tissue oxygenation than conventional plasma expanders. In a model of hemorrhagic shock in dogs, we studied the systemic and gastrointestinal oxygenation effects of HS and hyperoncotic (6%) dextran-70 in combination with HS (HSD) solutions in comparison with lactated Ringer's (LR) and (6%) hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions. Forty-eight mongrel dogs were anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and subjected to splenectomy. A gastric air tonometer was placed. in the stomach for intramucosal gastric CO2 (Pgco(2)) determination and for the calculation of intramucosal. pH (pHi):[pHi = pHa - log(Pgco(2)/Paco(2))].The dogs were hemorrhaged (42% of blood volume) to hold mean arterial blood pressure at 40-50 mm Hg over 30 min and were then resuscitated with LR (n = 12) in a 3:1 relation to removed blood volume; HS (n = 12), 6 mL / kg; HSD (n = 12), 6 mL / kg; and HES (mean molecular weight, 200 kDa; degree of substitution, 0.5) (n = 12) in a 1:1 relation to the removed blood volume. Hemodynamic, systemic, and gastric oxygenation variables were measured at baseline, after 30 min of hemorrhage, and 5, 60, and 120 min after intravascular fluid resuscitation. After fluid resuscitation, HS showed significantly lower arterial pH and mixed venous Po-2 and higher systemic oxygen uptake index and systemic oxygenation extraction than LR and HES (P < 0.05), whereas HSD showed significantly lower arterial pH than LR and HES (P < 0.05). Only HS and HSD did not return arterial pH and pHi to control levels (P < 0.05). In conclusion, all solutions improved systemic and gastrointestinal oxygenation after hemorrhagic shock in dogs. However, the HS solution showed the worst response in comparison to LR and HES solutions in relation to systemic oxygenation, whereas HSD showed intermediate values. HS and HSD solutions did not return regional oxygenation to control values.

Gastric mucosal perfusion in dogs: Effects of halogenated anesthetics and of hemorrhage

The gastrointestinal tract is one of the first organs affected by hypoperfusion during hemorrhagic shock. The hemodynamics and oxygen transport variables during hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation can be affected by the anesthetics used. In a model of pressure-guided hemorrhagic shock in dogs, we studied the effects of three halogenated anesthetics - halothane, sevoflurane, and isoflurane - at equipotent concentrations on gastric oxygenation. Thirty dogs were anesthetized with 1.0 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) of either halothane, sevoflurane, or isoflurane. A gastric tonometer was placed in the stomach to determine mucosal gastric CO2 (PgCO(2)) and for the calculation of gastric-arterial PCO2 gradient (PCO2 gap). The dogs were splenectomized and hemorrhaged to hold mean arterial pressure at 40-50 mm Hg over 45 min and then resuscitated with the shed blood volume. Hemodynamics, systemic oxygenation, and PCO2 gap were measured at baseline, after 45 min of hemorrhage, and at 15 and 60 min after blood resuscitation. Hemorrhage induced reductions of mean arterial pressure and cardiac index, while systemic oxygen extraction increased (p < .05), without significant differences among groups (p > .05). Halothane group showed significant lower PCO2 gap values than the other groups (p < .05). After 60 min of shed blood replacement, all groups restored hemodynamics, systemic oxygenation, and PCO2 gap to the prehemorrhage levels (p > .05), without significant differences among groups (p > .05). We conclude that halothane is superior to preserve the gastric mucosal perfusion in comparison to isoflurane and sevoflurane, in dogs submitted to pressure-guided hemorrhagic shock at equipotent doses of halogenated anesthetics.

Climate and acute/subacute paracoccidioidomycosis in a hyper-endemic area in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of esculetin and 4-methylesculetin in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid model of rat colitis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Vector and axial-vector correlators in a non-local chiral quark model

The behavior of the non-perturbative parts of the isovector-vector and isovector and isosinglet axial-vector correlators at Euclidean momenta is studied in the framework of a covariant chiral quark model with non-local quark-quark interactions. The gauge covariance is ensured with the help of the P-exponents, with the corresponding modification of the quark-current interaction vertices taken into account. The low- and high-momentum behavior of the correlators is compared with the chiral perturbation theory and with the QCD operator product expansion, respectively. The V-A combination of the correlators obtained in the model reproduces quantitatively the ALEPH and OPAL data on hadronic tau decays, transformed into the Euclidean domain via dispersion relations. The predictions for the electromagnetic pi(+/-) - pi(0) mass difference and for the pion electric polarizability are also in agreement with the experimental values. The topological susceptibility of the vacuum is evaluated as a function of the momentum, and its first moment is predicted to be chi'(0) approximate to (50 MeV)(2). In addition, the fulfillment of the Crewther theorem is demonstrated.

Discrete symmetries, invisible axion, and lepton number symmetry in an economic 3-3-1 model

We show that Peccei-Quinn and lepton number symmetries can be a natural outcome in a 3-3-1 model with right-handed neutrinos after imposing a Z(11)circle timesZ(2) symmetry. This symmetry is suitably accommodated in this model when we augment its spectrum by including merely one singlet scalar field. We work out the breaking of the Peccei-Quinn symmetry, yielding the axion, and study the phenomenological consequences. The main result of this work is that the solution to the strong CP problem can be implemented in a natural way, implying an invisible axion phenomenologically unconstrained, free of domain wall formation, and constituting a good candidate for the cold dark matter.

Positronium-hydrogen-atom scattering in a five-state model

The scattering of orthopositronium (Ps) by hydrogen atoms has been investigated in a five-state coupled-channel model allowing for Ps(1s)H(2s,2p) and Ps(2s,2p)H(1s) excitations using a recently proposed electron-exchange model potential. The higher (n greater than or equal to 3) excitations and ionization of the Ps atom are calculated using the first Born approximation. Calculations are reported of scattering lengths, phase shifts. elastic, Ps and H excitation, and total cross sections. Remarkable correlations are observed between the S-wave Ps-H binding energy and the singlet scattering length, effective range, and resonance energy obtained in various model calculations. These correlations suggest that if a Ps-H dynamical model yields the correct result for one of these four observables, it is expected to lead to the correct result for the other three. The present model, which is constructed so as to reproduce the Ps-H resonance at 4.01 eV, automatically yields a Ps-H bound state at - 1.05 eV that compares well with the accurate value of - 1.067 eV. The model leads to a singlet scattering length of 3.72a(0) and effective range of 1.67a(0), whereas the correlations suggest the precise values of 3.50a(0) and 1.65a(0) for these observables, respectively. [S1050-2947(99)07703-3].

Exchange terms in the quark-meson coupling model

In this talk we report on recent progress in implementing exchange terms in the quark-meson coupling model. Exchange effects are related to the Pauli exclusion principle. We discuss exchange effects at the nucleon level and at the quark level. We also address the incorporation of chiral symmetry and Delta degrees of freedom in the model.

gamma p and gamma gamma scattering from (p)over-bar-p, pp forward amplitudes in a QCD eikonal model with a dynamical gluon mass

We examine the gamma p photoproduction and the hadronic gamma gamma total cross sections by means of a QCD eikonal model with a dynamical infrared mass scale. In this model, where the dynamical gluon mass is the natural regulator for the tree level gluon-gluon scattering, the gamma p and gamma gamma total cross sections are derived from the pp and (p) over barp forward scattering amplitudes assuming vector meson dominance and the additive quark model. We show that the validity of the cross section factorization relation sigma(pp)/sigma(gamma p)=sigma(gamma p)/sigma(gamma gamma) is fulfilled depending on the Monte Carlo model used to unfold the hadronic gamma gamma cross section data, and we discuss in detail the case of sigma(gamma gamma -> hadrons) data with W-gamma gamma> 10 GeV unfolded by the Monte Carlo generators PYTHIA and PHOJET. The data seems to favor a mild dependence with the energy of the probability (P-had) that the photon interacts as a hadron.

Quark sea structure functions of the nucleon in a statistical model

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)